ANA expanding its air cargo network

All Nippon Airways, better known as ANA, has announced the start of two new air cargo lines with Naha Airport as its hub, from August 28th, one domestic and one international.

The routes connect Narita to Chubu (Nagoya) and on to Okinawa, and Okinawa to Qingdao, China. There was no cargo line connecting Chubu International Airport with Okinawa before, and the cargo used to move by way of Kansai or Narita airports. The direct route to Okinawa decreases transportation time by half a day to one day.

An ANA official says that the area where Chubu International Airport is located produces a lot of parts for automobiles, and the products from the area can now reach all of Asian areas in 24 hours.

The official added that there are many Japanese-affiliated companies and part assembly plants located in the area surrounding Qingdao, China, and the new cargo route could greatly boost their business.

After the new routes are inaugurated, the direct destinations of ANA cargo lines from Okinawa will be Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu domestically, while the direct international routes connect Okinawa to Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong Bangkok and Qingdao. In other words, ANA’s Okinawa hub will be connected directly with 10 destinations.